Let’s save the Saimaa Ringed Seal!

Endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal lives only in the lake of Saimaa in Finland. There are only about 260 seals left. This spring about 60 females will reproduce, and it is estimatedÂ that nearly half of seal pups will be drowned when they get entangled into fishnets of recreational fishermen. The seal population can’t survive if this will go on.

There is a solution. A total ban of fishing nets at the Ringed Saimaa seal breeding areas from 15th April to 30th June. The fishermen could still use other kind of fishing methods, for example seal safe fish traps.

There is also an obstacle. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sirkka-Liisa Anttila (Centre), favors voluntary conservation and random compensations to fishermen.